September 24

Beloved families of Good Shepherd,

Peace be with you!  This morning I enjoyed sharing the Godly Play “Creation” story with our kindergarten students at Good Shepherd Day School.  This story begins with a simple question: “What is the biggest present you’ve ever received?” This question frames the story about God’s huge gift of Creation.  I’ve heard some wonderful responses to this question over the many years of telling this story.  Children often name their parents, grandparents, pets, and special toys as the biggest gifts they’ve ever received.  This morning I heard a new response that really blew me away.  A young girl raised her hand and quietly said, “Love is the biggest present I’ve ever received.”

This 5-year-old child’s response was a profound gift to me today.   She reminded me that Love is the biggest present each of us can ever receive.  Thomas Merton, a Kentucky monk and mystic who lived at the Abbey of Gethsemani, says our deepest core consists of the pure gold of the Holy Trinity.  Merton was given a brief glimpse of the beauty of Love dwelling inside each of us at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Street in Louisville:  “There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun…if only we could see each other that way all the time.  There would be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed.”  Merton discovered that when we receive this gift of Love at our core and surrender to it, we will no longer see each other as separate from one another; we’ll begin to live in harmony and unity with one another.  

I wish all of our families a joyful and restful fall break.  I pray that you will see the dazzling gold of God’s love within yourselves and your children as you spend this coming week together!

We hope to see you this Sunday!

Many Blessings,

Patty

P.S.  We hope you will mark your calendars for our Trunk or Treat event with Good Shepherd Day School on Thursday, October 30, 5:30-6:30 pm.  Wear your costumes and come join us!  Candy and small trinket donations are appreciated—just drop off your donations to the friendly monsters at church and school!